Article

2007-05-17 Africa Subsaharan

250 Pakistani peacekeepers leave for Liberia

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Posted by Fred 2007-05-17 00:00|| || Front Page|| [8 views ] Top

#1 Looking at Perv's current charm offensive they'd be more use at home.

Posted by Howard UK 2007-05-17 03:25|| 2007-05-17 03:25|| Front Page Top

#2 For the Pakis, UN assignments are considered plum jobs and are traditionally used as a reward for loyal service. The unit being sent is most likely one that is being rotated out of Pakistan for awhile after fighting terrorists/separatists/tribalists, and the UN assignment means that the troops will be getting Western medical attention, new weapons and equipment, and about $1000 US a month per diem from the UN - about 10 times the amount of money that the average goat herder earns back in Pakistan. Oh, and add in the new vehicles, uniforms, the UN-built barracks, the catered food, and all the local Liberian honeys that the troops can rent for the night - a truly rewarding experience for a lad from the mountains of Pakistan.

Posted by Shieldwolf 2007-05-17 04:42|| 2007-05-17 04:42|| Front Page Top

#3 That's all very nice, but why does Liberia need peacekeepers?

Posted by trailing wife 2007-05-17 07:34|| 2007-05-17 07:34|| Front Page Top

#4 TW, I can think of a couple of reasons:
1) Things are still a little tense. The legislature is filled with warlord partisans, nobody in his right mind believes the combatants are completely disarmed, and the police are deeply understaffed. (As soon as a new policeman is trained, he quits and joins a private security firm--better pay and easier work. The crime rate is _very_ high.)
2) Things _are_ quiet, so "peacekeeper" actually makes sense for a change.
3) Trickle-down economic boom. I've never seen so many people building houses. Of course, one day the UN will go away, and if the economic infrastructure is entirely built around servicing expats...

Some of the UN projects seemed a trifle naive. One is supposed to encourage integrity in government--no more bribes, just good governance. It addresses a crying problem, and the fellow seemed earnest enough, but . . .

Posted by James">James 2007-05-17 11:10|| http://idontknowbut.blogspot.com]">[http://idontknowbut.blogspot.com] 2007-05-17 11:10|| Front Page Top

#5 Thank you, James. That makes sense, right up until the Pakistanis were added.

Posted by trailing wife 2007-05-17 13:01|| 2007-05-17 13:01|| Front Page Top

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